Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a biopsy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications:

Bleeding

Infection

Bruising

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

Smoking

Poor nutrition

Chronic illnesses, such as
obesity
or
diabetes

Bleeding disorders

Reasons for Procedure

Breast needle biopsy is done to examine a suspicious area in the breast. It may be done if any of the following are found:

Lump

Tissue thickening

Nipple abnormality

Discharge from the nipple

Abnormal ultrasound or
mammogram
image

The biopsy can identify the area as either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure

Your doctor may do the following:

Physical exam, especially a breast exam

Blood tests

Mammogram
and/or breast ultrasound

Leading up to the biopsy:

Talk to your doctor about your current medications. Certain medication may need to be stopped before the procedure.

Shower the morning of the biopsy. You may be asked to use a special antibacterial soap.

Anesthesia

You may receive local anesthesia. If this is the case, the area that is being operated on will be numbed.

Description of the Procedure

The doctor will choose from several types of biopsies to get a tissue sample:

Fine Needle Aspiration

The skin over the area will be cleaned. A small needle will be inserted into the breast tissue. Fluid and/or tissue will be removed. The needle may be removed and re-inserted more than one time. After this is done, the doctor will apply pressure to the area and cover the spot with a bandage.

An ultrasound device is used to locate the area where the biopsy needs to be taken. After the location is found, a small needle will be inserted in the breast tissue. Samples of fluid and/or tissue will be removed. A bandage will be applied after the needle is removed.

Stereotactic Core Needle Biopsy

The doctor may have you lie down on your stomach or sit depending on the equipment being used. Mammogram
or ultrasound images will be taken to locate the suspicious area. The doctor will make a tiny cut in your breast and insert a special probe. Using the probe, the doctor will remove several core samples of breast tissue from the area. After this is done, the area will be covered with a bandage.

MRI-guided Breast Biopsy

In some instances, the suspicious area can only be seen using
an
MRI scan
. Because of this, an MRI-guided breast biopsy may be needed. This procedure takes more time. Tell your doctor if you have a
cardiac pacemaker
. It may affect the procedure.

Vacuum-assisted Device Biopsy

The doctor will insert a needle and use pressure from a vacuum to pull tissue from the mass through the needle. The tissue is then placed into a sampling chamber. This method lets the doctor collect multiple tissue samples during one needle insertion.

How Long Will It Take?

It will take less than 1 hour. After the procedure, the tissue collected will be sent to a pathologist who will look at it under a microscope. It may take about 2-5 days to receive the test results.

Will It Hurt?

There will be slight pain in your breast after the biopsy. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication.

Post-procedure Care

At Home

Home care will include using medications or taking self-care measures to reduce discomfort. The care staff will give instructions on how to change any bandages. Doing this will help reduce the chance of infection.

Call Your Doctor

Contact your doctor if your recovery is not progressing as expected or you develop complications, such as:

Signs of infection, including fever and chills

Redness, swelling, increasing pain, a lot of bleeding, or discharge from the biopsy site

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.